Short Story: Breathe

As you might have figure by now, I adore mermaids. I love artworks of mermaids, myths of mermaids and of course, stories of mermaids. So when I found a writing prompt that said to write a story about a mermaid and a princess, I just had to write something. Let me know what you think and enjoy!

He was drowning. He fought with all he had, flailing wildly. Anything to just break through the surface and just breathe, but it was hopeless. His vision was darkening, shifting from black back into colour and he was losing his focus. The ship was becoming smaller, the shimmering of the sun on the surface impossibly far away.

Something moved in the water. He looked at it, watched as it came closer impossibly fast. His eyes grew wide as the shape became more human. A mermaid, his slowing mind provided.

“John!” the mermaid called out through the water. He wondered how he could hear her, and how she knew his name for that matter. A vision, he decided, conjured up by his mind so he wouldn’t die alone. It had to be a vision, for the mermaid wore the face of his captain.

“Marina” he whispered, the last of his breath escaping his lips as she took his face in her hands. She looked worried, her eyes sad as her grey-green hair floated away from her face. The scales of her tail were the same colour he noted, shimmering lavender where the sun hit them just right. It was the last thing he saw before the world turned black once again.

Soft lips pressed against his own. Softer than they were in his dreams and fantasies. It was the most natural thing to breathe in as she exhaled. The pain in his lungs lessened, which his doctor’s mind told him was not a good thing. He clung to his fantasy, deepening the kiss while breathing in her sweet air.

Too soon she pulled back, wonder and desire both glinting in her pale silver eyes. She smiled at him, the soft smile she sometimes wore when they were the only two on deck, gazing at the stars. He smiled back as she gently caressed his face with her fingers. He closed his eyes under her touch. He opened them again when he felt her wind her arms under his armpits, gripping tight around his chest. She pulled up and he had no choice but to follow.

They sped through the water, straight up towards the light of the sun and John thought that if he were to die, this was actually quite pleasant.

At that moment they broke through the surface. There was a lot of shouting and suddenly there was a rope around his chest, pulling him up to the ship while he tried to cough up the water from his lungs. They lowered him to the deck and after more shouting, another figure was laid beside him.

His breath left his lungs on a sharp exhale as he watched the glittering scales of the mermaid’s tail melt away, leaving in their place two very human looking legs.

“Marina?” He rasped as he looked into his captain’s face. The corner of her mouth quirked up in humour at his shock.

“Your pup was right.” Marina said as she nodded towards his daughter, staring at them with wide eyes.

“You’re a – a mermaid pirate captain?” John asked, his voice still raw.

Fondness twinkled in her eyes as she leaned forward. “Mermaid pirate captain princess.” She corrected. Before he could do anything more than gape at her she pressed her still wet lips against his, not caring that the whole crew was watching.

“Ew!” Little Emma’s voice called out. “Does that mean you’ll get married now? Will I be a princess too?” She gasped as she excitedly bounced on the balls of her feet.

John laughed, he couldn’t help it. He laid back down on the deck, pulling Marina into his arms and looked up at the blue sky. As he pressed her close he thanked the lucky stars that it was this ship that he and his daughter had stepped on, so many months ago.